Kaab
Ibn Ujrah says that Rasulullah (SAW) said, “Come near to the mimbar” and
we came near the mimbar. When He climbed the first step
of the mimbar, He said “Aameen”, When He climbed the second step, He
said “Aameen”, When He climbed the third step, He said “Aameen”
When He came down, We said “O Rasul of Allah (SAW), today we have heard
from you something which we had never heard before.”
Rasulullah (SAW) said, “When I climbed the first step, Jibraeel
appeared before me and said, “Destruction to the person who found
the blessed month of Ramadhaan and let it pass by without gaining forgiveness,”
then, I said ‘Aameen.’ When I climbed the second step, he said,
“Destruction to the person before whom your (i.e. Nabi’s (SAW)) name is
taken and he does not send Durood and Salaam on you (for
example by saying, Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam).” I replied ‘Aameen.’
When I climbed the third step, he said “Destruction on that person in whose
lifetime both his parents or either one of them reaches old age, and (because
of not serving them) he is not allowed to enter Jannah.” I said ‘Aameen.’
Note: In this Hadeeth, Jibraeel made three curses,
upon which Rasulullah said “Aameen” every time.
In al-Durr al-Mansoor, it is said that Jibraeel asked
Rasulullah (SAW) to say ‘Aameen’. The curses of Jibraeel , an
angel of such high position, are sure to be accepted. May Allah in His mercy
grant us His help and save us from these three curses.
The first person described above is he who, even in the blessed
month of Ramadhaan, spends the days in sin and does not worry about his duties,
thus he does not get forgiveness. Ramadhaan is the month of Allah’s mercy and
if even this month is spent carelessly, how can he expect to be forgiven for
his sins? If he cannot gain Allah’s forgiveness in Ramadhaan, then when will he
do so? The way to seek Allah’s pardon for his sins is to complete his duties in
Ramadhaan as ordered by Allah , such as fasting, reading Taraweeh Salaah and
asking for Allah’s forgiveness for past sins.
The second unfortunate person is he who hears the name of
Rasulullah’s (SAW) and yet does not send Durood and Salaam on
him. For this reason, some Ulama’ consider it compulsory to
recite Durood whenever the name of Muhammad (SAW) is
mentioned. In some Ahaadeeth, the person who fails to do so is
called unfortunate and stingy. Such people are described as those
who would lose the way to Jannah, or even among those who will enter Jahannam
or those who will not look upon the blessed face of Rasulullah(SAW). The Ulama
give us many meanings to these Ahaadeeth. Not sending Durood and Salaam on
Nabi (SAW) is very unfortunate.
Why should it not be? After all, the favours on us because of
Rasulullah (SAW) are so great that our writings and our lectures
cannot describe. His favours on us are very great. Therefore, any warning, for
the neglect of sending Durood and Salaam on
Nabi(SAW), is acceptable.
On the other hand, the reward for reciting Durood is
very great. The Hadeeth teaches us that whosoever recites Durood once,
Allah sends ten blessings on him and the Malaaikah make dua for
him. All his
sins are forgiven, his position is raised and his reward will be as big as
mount Uhud and on the day of Qiyamah,
Rasulullah (SAW) shall ask Allah to forgive him.
More promises of reward are: obtaining Allah’s happiness, mercy
and safety against His anger, safety from the fears of Qiyamah,
seeing your place in Jannah while still alive on this earth.
Besides these, there is the promise of never being troubled by poverty and of
enjoying nearness to Rasulullah (SAW), the promise of help against enemies
and the promise of being loved by others. It is compulsory to recite Durood at
least once in a lifetime and all the Ulama’ are agreed upon
this fact. However, some Ulama’ say that Durood must
be recited whenever the name of Rasulullah (SAW) is mentioned while
others say it is preferable.
The third person
described in the Hadeeth above, is he in whose lifetime one or
both of his parents reach old age, and yet he is unable to gain Jannah by
serving them. The Ulama’ have stated that in every permissible
act, it is compulsory to obey the parents’ commands. You should not be
disrespectful to them and you should be be humble, even though they may be non
muslims. You must neither raise your voice above theirs, nor call them by their
names. When they have to be called towards good and stopprd from evil, it
should be done mercifully and you should continue to make dua for
them even if they refuse to accept.
In a Hadeeth it
is said that, at all times they should be honoured and respected. It is also
related that the best of doors for entering Jannah is the
father. If you wish, look after it and if you wish, destroy it.
A Sahaabi asked Rasulullah(SAW), “What are the
rights due to parents?” He (SAW) replied, “They are your Jannah and
your Jahannam! I.e. if they are happy, it leads you to Jannah while
their unhappiness leads you to Jahannam.” It is stated in a Hadeeth that
when an
obedient son looks with
love and affection at his parents, the reward for that look shall be an
accepted Hajj. In another Hadeeth, it is stated that Allah forgives
all sins as He pleases except the sin of shirk (i.e. joining
partners with Allah ). However, He causes punishment for disobedience to
parents, right in this world before death.
A Sahaabi said, “O Rasul of Allah, I want to go
for Jihad.” Rasulullah (SAW) asked, “Is your mother
alive?” “Yes,” He replied. Rasulullah(SAW)then said, “Serve her, Jannah lies
under her feet”. Again another Hadeeth says, “The pleasure of
Allah is in pleasing your father, and Allah’s displeasure is in displeasing
your father.”
However, if ones parents
were not respected and treated properly and have passed away, there is still
something that their children can do according to Islam. The Hadeeth teaches
us that, in such cases, one should always make dua for their
forgiveness. By doing so, you will be counted among those who are obedient.
Another Hadeeth says that the best action a person can do
after the death of his father is to treat his friends in a friendly manner (as
the father would have done).
Best wishes
